ONE PATH PAYS YOU
Same four years. Wildly different bank account.
–$35,600
Average college debt
4 yrs · No Paycheck · No Job Guaranteed
PAID
From your first week
$0 Tuition · Raises as You Learn · Job Waiting
Skip the debt. Learn a skill. Build the tech that defends America — and get paid from day one.
Tuition Debt
Day One
In A Few Years
Jobs Open Now
Same four years. Wildly different bank account.
Average college debt
4 yrs · No Paycheck · No Job Guaranteed
From your first week
$0 Tuition · Raises as You Learn · Job Waiting
You get a raise for leveling up, not a bill.
Getting paid your first week. No experience needed.
Every skill you unlock bumps your paycheck.
+60% from where you started, and zero debt.
Tap a trade to see programs, pay, and how to start.
Scholarships and funded programs cover the cost, some even pay for housing.
ATDM Training
Navy-funded: 4 months of welding, CNC, 3D printing & more — tuition + housing covered.
Apprentice School Awards
Scholarships for students starting at Newport News Shipbuilding's Apprentice School.
SME PRIME + more
School programs and grants in defense hubs nationwide. Search your ZIP to see what you qualify for.
From scrolling to getting paid.
Find the lane that looks like you.
Drop your ZIP, see real programs.
Start earning. Skip the debt.
Browse open jobs, training programs, and apprenticeships in your state.
Nope. Most programs are built for beginners — you learn on the job. A high school diploma or GED is usually enough, and some internships start while you're still in school.
No. Apprenticeships pay you from day one, and lots of training is fully funded. The average trade grad typically owes $10K or less — vs ~$35,600 for a 4-year degree.
Start around $20/hr, climb to ~$32/hr by the time you finish, and average roughly $80K within a few years. 92% of apprentices stay employed.
Yes. Begin with internships, pre-apprenticeships, and scholarships now so you graduate with a plan and a paycheck lined up. Under 18? A parent or guardian can help you enroll.
Probably not. These jobs are in all 50 states. Drop your ZIP in the finder to see what's near you.
Our mission is simple: build the workforce that builds and defends America. Our national and economic security depends on it. We will help power our nation’s defense industrial base and revive the skilled trades. We will be connecting the next generation of builders – the welders, machinists, mechanics, electricians, technicians and more – to high-wage, big-impact jobs. You can help us build freedom for generations to come.
Contact us
In partnership with mikeroweWORKS Foundation,National Labor Exchange and the Department of War.
